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What To Know About Drug Use Disorder And Addiction
November 08, 2024
No person ever plans on battling a drug use disorder, but this complex disease affects millions of Americans every single year. Drug use disorders alter your mind and body and can ruin your life. Thankfully, there is support for individuals dealing with drug use. Specialized drug addiction treatment is accessible in the Orlando area and can help you take back control of your life. Continue reading to learn more about drug use disorders and addiction and how people and their loved ones can conquer these conditions with specialized help.
What Is A Drug Use Disorder?
Many people use illicit drugs for social reasons or potent prescription drugs to manage health conditions. But at what point does drug use develop into a life-impacting disorder?
Typically, drug use becomes a disorder when an individual exhibits troubling patterns of use and can no longer control their use. Drug use disorders are mental health conditions that range from mild to severe. These conditions disrupt your life and severely impact your physical state.
There are distinct aspects of drug use disorders:
- Dependence develops when your body becomes so reliant on a drug that it struggles to perform without it. You will experience distressing withdrawal symptoms if you quit using the drug.
- Addiction is a mental dependency. Habit-forming drugs alter your neural chemistry so that you continuously want those drugs and feel urged to use them more and more. You are no longer in control of your mental state and behaviors. Addiction is the most severe form of drug use disorders.
All phases of drug use disorder are damaging to your body, mind, relationships, and wellbeing. If you think you or someone you love has a drug use disorder, seek skilled treatment for recovery. Everyone deserves help.
What Drugs Are Addictive?
Habit-forming drugs possess strong chemicals that change your brain. Some are dangerous enough to be prohibited by law. Others are legal prescription drugs but can turn dangerous when misused or consumed too frequently. Below are many of the frequently encountered addictive drugs in the US:
- Narcotics deaden the senses, which makes them potent pain relievers. Even so, individuals also take them to dull other unwanted feelings and can get addicted quickly. Narcotics are typically categorized as opiates or opioids. Opiates are plant-sourced substances. Opioids are manufactured. Heroin is a well-known prohibited narcotic. Legal narcotics like Percocet, OxyContin, Vicodin, morphine, and fentanyl have medical uses but are dependency-causing and often abused.
- Benzodiazepines are mood-changing drugs typically recommended for psychological disorders. Even so, they can become addictive when not used properly. Their calming qualities produce a feeling of being relaxed. Valium and Xanax are familiar benzos.
- Stimulants include prescription drugs like Ritalin and Adderall, as well as illegal drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine. They activate your central nervous system, leaving you feeling alert, elated, and animated. Excessive use of stimulants can be fatal.
Each of these kinds of drugs can result in a drug use disorder. They all carry the potential to disrupt your life and create dangerous medical conditions. Find help for yourself or someone close to you at the first indication of substance dependency.
How Does Drug Addiction Occur?
There are numerous reasons why individuals start using habit-forming drugs. Many do so for pleasure because they like the feelings those chemicals create. Different individuals develop dependency with prescription drugs they're consuming for medical purposes. Additional people start using drugs to cope with unmanaged mental illnesses and discover short-term relief.
Whatever the reason for first taking these substances, the route to addiction is typically the same. Your body starts to be reliant on the drug, and you feel unwell when you don't take it. You ingest more just to get by. You might slowly take greater amounts for the drug to have an impact. You appreciate how its influence feels. You feel desperate without it and keep taking it. Ultimately, those chemicals dominate the reward system of your brain, and you are unable to feel normal unless that drug is in your system.
When you're addicted, finding a steady supply of the drug is all that matters. Numerous people harm relationships, endure illness, give up jobs, and take great risks as a result of drug addiction. Your addiction dominates you and every part of your life, and you are unable to quit without professional support.
What Are Signs Of Drug Addiction?
You might surmise that a drug use disorder would be clear. However, these disorders can look different among individuals, and those you love will frequently try to mask their drug use from family members. If you have doubts if you or a friend have a drug use disorder, consider these warning signals:
- Having an irresistible urge to use the drug
- Unsuccessful tries to slow down on or quit using the drug
- Allocating much time and energy acquiring the drug, taking it, or recovering from its effects
- Using a prescribed drug for longer timeframes or in higher amounts than prescribed
- Unable to fulfill obligations due to drug use
- Abandoning cherished activities to consume drugs
- Continuing to use the drug even though it harms relationships
- Persistent use of the drug even when it takes a toll on your physical and psychological health
- Requiring more of the drug to feel its effects
- Going through withdrawal when trying to halt use
- Putting yourself at risk to obtain or use the drug
Drug use disorders can look different among people. If you or a loved one are displaying any signs of drug addiction near Orlando, talk to a doctor or addiction treatment specialist.
Where To Get Drug Addiction Treatment In Orlando
Drug use disorder treatment is a multi-step process. Many people will experience setbacks and need to repeat steps more than once. You may not be “cured” of drug use disorder, but countless individuals find recovery and use what they learn during treatment to live a rewarding, substance-free life. The key is locating skilled, evidence-based treatment that aligns with your needs.
Every person’s recovery journey will be unique. Even so, treatment usually includes the these steps at authorized treatment facilities:
- Drug detox is the process of letting your body rid itself of substances. Your body will do this naturally if you abstain from taking more drugs. However, if you have a drug dependence, you will encounter withdrawal without substances. To complete detox in a safe manner, you should go to an inpatient detox center that provides 24-hour medical support and keeps you as comfortable as possible.
- Drug rehab programs also offer inpatient treatment. In rehab, you’ll still live at a treatment facility and get access to specialized healthcare for any lingering withdrawal symptoms. Daily, you attend different types of psychotherapy with the aim of understanding your addiction, developing new healthy habits, and addressing any existing mental disorders. You should remain in rehab until you become mentally and physically stable enough to exit that sober environment.
- Once you leave rehab, you should continue to receive expert addiction treatment. Outpatient addiction and mental health services will help you live your life without drugs. These programs give you continuing therapy and medication management. At first, you may participate in outpatient treatment every day and head home each night. Eventually, you’ll require less support and could only attend therapy once a week or less.
Everyone is entitled to specialized, caring addiction treatment. Regardless of how advanced your addiction may be, recovery is possible. Getting professional therapy at an accredited treatment center is critical to reach your goals. You don’t have to face addiction alone. You have multiple options for drug addiction treatment near Orlando.
How Can Families Help A Loved One Battling Drug Addiction Near Orlando?
People with a drug use disorder need all the assistance they can find. Family and friends can be essential to addiction recovery. If you love someone with a drug use disorder, here are many ways you are able to assist them:
- Help them enter a treatment program
- Help them cover the cost of treatment
- Participate in family counseling with them
- Participate in aftercare planning
- Provide a safe, sober environment to reside in
- Avoid passing judgment
- Set boundaries around their drug use
- Provide transportation to outpatient treatment appointments
Find Help For Drug Use Disorders Near Orlando Today
No one should try to handle drug use disorders by themselves. If you or a person you care about are grappling with drug addiction, there is hope for recovery. Turn to Evolve Recovery Center Orlando at 407-305-3458 or fill out the contact form on this page. A member of our team will reply right away to discuss treatment. Every call is free and secure. You can reach us 24/7, every day of the year. Get help today. We are here for you.
Author
Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Stephen Cooke brings over a decade of experience in international and American healthcare communications to Praesum. A prolific writer and published author, Stephen has dedicated his career to promoting health and recovery across various organizations.